Proposed landfill near Joshua Tree National Park scrapped

The Los Angeles County Sanitation District has scrapped its plans to develop one of the world's largest landfills near Joshua Tree National Park, ending a nearly 20-year legal battle with the National Parks Conservation Association over potential environmental impacts to pristine desert landscape.

On Wednesday, the district's board decided it would cease negotiations with Mine Reclamation Corporation for the purchase of the land and consider other options for long-term waste management strategies, according to a news release issued by the district.

"This step was taken only after very careful consideration about what will best serve the public in the long term and what is in the best interests of the agency," said Grace Robinson Chan, chief engineer and general manager of the district, in a statement issued Wednesday.

The National Parks Conservation Association (NPCA), which maintained that the proposed landfill was targeted for an inappropriate site because it was surrounded on three sides by Joshua Tree National Park and homes to the desert tortoise and bighorn sheep, commended the district on its decision.

"NPCA applauds the Los Angeles County Sanitation District for heeding these calls and making the right decision to move away from purchasing this property in order to develop this landfill project," said David Lanfrom, California Desert Senior Program Manager for the NPCA. "Their actions will help protect a Southern California treasure, and move he regionl forward in advocating for increased recycling and diversion to manage Southern California's waste. "